'Monster' Season 4's IMDb Scores Indicate Worrying Trend for Ryan Murphy's Anthology

True crime has emerged as one of the most dependable genres in streaming, yet few shows have embraced this trend as boldly as Ryan Murphy’s anthology series that delves into America’s most infamous killers. Each new season sparks its own wave of controversy, viral discussions, and comparisons to previous installments.

Since 2021, Murphy and co-creator Ian Brennan have crafted a franchise centered around dramatizing notorious true crime cases, transitioning from Jeffrey Dahmer to the Menendez brothers and Ed Gein over three increasingly contentious seasons. With the fourth installment now available for streaming, the series has shifted its focus to a female killer for the first time.

This change comes with ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story,’ and a newly compiled analysis of IMDb episode ratings reveals a trend that’s difficult to overlook. Season averages have consistently dropped with each new release, starting at 7.9 for the Dahmer season, then decreasing to 7.7, followed by 6.9, and landing at 6.4 for the Lizzie Borden chapter.

IMDb ratings for each season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s MONSTER series. pic.twitter.com/S7edlPdnzS

— What’s on Netflix (@whatonnetflix) September 27, 2026

The downward trend becomes even clearer when examining individual episodes throughout the show’s history. The fifth episode of the Dahmer season reached an impressive 9.1, while Season 4’s eighth episode fell to a much lower 5.3, marking one of the anthology’s lowest single-episode scores.

This decline in viewer ratings reflects a similar pattern observed among professional critics, who have become increasingly critical of the franchise with each new season. Reviews for the Lizzie Borden season have hovered around 50 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ score, continuing a trend that includes 57 percent for the Dahmer season and a much lower 22 percent for the Ed Gein installment.

Screenshot 2026 09 27 at 20 09 51 Monster DAHMER The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Rotten Tomatoes

Featuring Ella Beatty as the titular Lizzie Borden, along with Rebecca Hall, Charlie Hunnam, and Vicky Krieps, Season 4 portrays the young woman’s life leading up to the notorious 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother. Some reviews have commended the season for its exploration of themes like female rage and societal oppression, while others have criticized its creative liberties with historical facts.

Screenshot 2026 09 27 at 20 09 32 Monster The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Rotten Tomatoes

Despite the decline in ratings, the show’s audience numbers present a somewhat different picture. ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ premiered with 12.1 million views in its first four days and has since exceeded 80 million total views, although this still falls short of the viewership peaks achieved by earlier seasons of the anthology.

Screenshot 2026 09 27 at 20 09 40 Monster The Ed Gein Story Rotten Tomatoes

Even as reviews become more critical with each season, Netflix shows no signs of slowing down the franchise. Brennan has already hinted at plans to expand the anthology to as many as ten seasons, indicating that the creative team sees numerous infamous cases left to explore, regardless of the reception of each installment.

Screenshot 2026 09 27 at 20 09 23 Monster The Lizzie Borden Story Rotten Tomatoes

This commitment raises an intriguing question about whether the declining ratings will eventually impact the franchise’s viewership numbers or if ‘Monster’ has established enough brand loyalty to maintain large audiences despite critical feedback. So far, the show has remained one of Netflix’s most-watched original series, despite consistently mixed reviews.

Given the extensive cultural conversation each season ignites, from ethical discussions about dramatizing real victims to genuine interest in the source material, ‘Monster’ appears to thrive on both controversy and acclaim. Whether this formula continues to work effectively in future seasons may depend on the next case the show decides to tackle.

Watch the first trailer for Ryan Murphy’s anthology series ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.’

Streaming September 17 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/2vgckAn5y2

— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) August 11, 2026

Currently, the IMDb ratings indicate that audiences are becoming slightly more critical with each new chapter, even as the franchise’s overall appeal remains undeniable. Whether Season 5 can reverse this trend will likely hinge on which infamous figure Murphy and Brennan choose to dramatize next.

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